Special Circuit Judge Forrest Johnson made good on his promise to revoke Cory Ferraez's bond today.
A Forrest County grand jury indicted the Hattiesburg attorney in 2021 for embezzlement, conspiracy, and mail/wire fraud.
Ferraez failed to appear at a status conference Judge Johnson held on September 5. The Court issued the following order:
Judge Johnson set the defendant's trial for March 23, 2026 in Forrest County.
Synopsis of Case
A Forrest County grand jury indicted attorney Corey Ferraez in October 2021 for embezzlement by attorney, conspiracy to obtain signature with intent to defraud, and mail/wire fraud. Corey's twin brother Jace was also indicted for conspiracy to obtain signature with intent to defraud.
The story begins when Corey was a partner at the Holmes, McLelland, & Farraez law firm. As so many lawyers do, Corey and his firm divorced. The lawyer was "obligated to pay the firm, now McHard, McHard, Anderson, and Associates, PLLC 20% of all attorneys fees in cases included in the settlement agreement.
The list of cases included the representation of Shawn Vaughn. Corey represented Vaughn in a personal injury lawsuit as well as her Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. Corey settled Vaughn's lawsuit for $650,000. The attorney's fees were $260,000. Thus Corey allegedly owe $52,000 to his former firm. However, the indictment claims he had other ideas.
Count I accuses Corey of filing a bogus lien against the bankruptcy estate on behalf of MMAA for $52,000 in March 2020. The bankruptcy court approved payment of the lien. Thus Corey managed to pay his former law firm by sticking his client with the bill, forcing her to pay $312,000 in attorney's fees.
The case has had a rather curious history. All twelfth circuit court judges recused themselves. The Mississippi Supreme Court appointed Special Circuit Judge Forrest Johnson to hear the case. The Court appointed then-Fourteenth District Attorney Dee Bates to prosecute the case. However, Bates retired and the current District Attorney, Brendan Adams, withdrew from the case in April 2024, claiming his caseload was too great.
Judge Johnson appointed Madison-Rankin District Attorney Bubba Bramlett to prosecute the case in July 2025. Bramlett assigned the case to Assistant District Attorney Ashley Allen.
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